LCMC History

LCMC History

Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ adopted its constitution in March of 2001 and grew from 25 congregations to 46 congregations by the time the association held its first national convention in October of the same year. Today LCMC consists of over 900 congregations in countries across the globe and has a full time staff of six people. Each day, we work to strengthen the churches that we have, and to plant the ones we don't.

Our History

Oct 4 2015

Frisco, Texas: Our DNA – LCMC celebrates
15 years by exploring the DNA of the association.LCMC membership now includes over 730 US
congregations and almost 120 ministries in 16 countries.The assembly includes 744 people, with 364
delegates and 7 visitors.Member
congregations submitted proposals for the Reformation Anniversary Grant
Program.The association presents 15
grants of $5,000 each to congregations using funds from the Thrivent Financial
Foundation.Projects using these grants
are to benefit the local community and shall be future looking, outward facing,
member engaging, and collaborative.

Oct 5 2014

Des Moines, Iowa: Reason for Hope –LCMC
continues to expand and has grown to over 710 US congregations and 12 countries
which boast over 115 ministries.Just
over 1025 people join together to explore our Reason for Hope.481 delegates and just under 100 visitors are
among those present.Tuesday evening,
the assembly joins together in service raising over $95,000 and packaging over
290,000 meals for Meals from the
Heartland.The association also
welcomes its sixth full time employee, Steve Lien, Coordinator for Pastoral
Ministry.

Oct 6 2013

Dearborn, Michigan: The
Grace of Giving- LCMC membership has
grown to over 700 US congregations and 12 countries in partnership.Over 850 people joined together this year and
were represented by over 440 delegates and 125 visitors.As the association looks forward to focusing
on new ministry starts, Dan Clites joins the staff as the Coordinator for Church Planting Development.

Oct 7 2012

Denver, Colorado:
Ambassadors for Christ - LCMC sees continued growth with over 690 US
congregations and relationships in 10 countries.The gathering united 978 people including 484
delegates and 184 visitors.A committee
that had reviewed the association By-Laws presented their recommendations and
the assembly approves these changes with some minor modifications.

Oct 2 2011

Des Moines, Iowa:Growing in Christ - LCMC continued to see
steady growth through 2011 and now had over 650 US congregations.Over 1,100 people joined together in Des
Moines with over 600 delegates and 145 visitors.During this gathering, an ecumenical
agreement was approved to move forward with Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane
Yesus (EECMY).The association also
welcomes Kristy Thomas as our Communications and Public Relations Specialist.

Oct 3 2010

Golden Valley, Minnesota:
Celebrate! - LCMC celebrates its first decade during the 10th Annual Gathering
hosted by Calvary Lutheran Church, Golden Valley, Minnesota. LCMC has seen
exponential growth and is now over 550 congregations with 500 US congregations.
Just under 1,100 people come together in celebration with 500 delegates and
well over 200 visitors.LCMC also
welcomes its second Service Coordinator, Mark Vander Tuig, who joined the staff
in September.

Oct 1 2009

Fargo, North Dakota: LCMC returns to Atonement Lutheran Church in Fargo,
North Dakota, for its 9th Annual Gathering entitled "The Invitation".
LCMC has begun to see increased interest and has grown to 238
congregations. Over 700 people are in attendance including 275 visitors
seeking to learn and understand more about LCMC. The convention passes a
resolution that better defines the roll of districts within the
association.

Sep 28 2008

Albuquerque, New Mexico: Gathering in The Land of Enchantment, the
association holds its 8th Annual Gathering at Faith Lutheran Church in
Albuquerque, New Mexico. LCMC has grown to 217 member congregations.
Several Canadian congregations join LCMC and discussions begin about how
to facilitate greater cooperation with our neighbors to the north. A
strong North American base with solid ties to partners on other
continents is the vision for LCMC as it moves toward the celebration of
its first decade as an association.

Oct 7 2007

Arden Hills, Minnesota: Celebrating another milestone in its growth, the
association passes the 200 mark in member congregations, as 350
delegates and visitors from our 210 congregations gather under the
banner of "Teach Us to Pray" at North Heights Lutheran Church. The
Thrivent Foundations adds LCMC to the list of church bodies it supports
by giving a grant of $25,000 to LCMC to help support our growing
ministry.

Oct 1 2006

Albuquerque, New Mexico: The association celebrates its first five years
at its 6th Annual Gathering. Nearly 300 delegates and visitors enjoy
the southwest hospitality of our host congregation. The 183 member
congregations of the association represent 32 states in the USA and 6
other countries around the world.

Oct 2 2005

Altoona, Iowa: LCMC holds its 5th Annual Gathering at Lutheran Church of
the Cross. 315 Delegates, Members and Visitors gather in Altoona, Iowa.
The association has expanded to include 119 congregations in 26 states
and 42 international congregations -- three in Mexico, 14 in Vietnam and
25 in India-- for a total of 161 member congregations.

Oct 3 2004

Fargo, North Dakota: LCMC holds its 4th Annual Gathering at Atonement
Lutheran Church. 260 Delegates, Members and Visitors gather in Fargo,
North Dakota. The association has expanded to include 105 congregations
in 26 states and 17 international congregations -- three in Mexico and
14 in Vietnam -- for a total of 122 member congregations. Both staff
persons in our national office in Canton, Michigan, are now full time as
inquiries about LCMC continue to expand.

Oct 5 2003

Canton, Michigan: LCMC holds its 3rd National Convention at St Michael
Lutheran Church. LCMC is now separate from WA and the convention is held
at the host congregation for LCMC's National Office. The association
has a full-time National Service Coordinator and a part-time Director of
Operations/Financial Secretary and has grown to 81 congregations. The
delegates to the convention vote to expand the association by voting to
accept international congregations.

Apr 28 2002

Arden Hills, Minnesota: LCMC holds its 2nd National Convention in
conjunction with the WA convention at North Heights Lutheran Church. The
association has grown to 62 congregations. A commitment is made to have
the association become entirely autonomous from WA and to establish its
own office.

Oct 26 2001

St Louis Park, Minnesota: LCMC holds its 1st National Convention and
elects its first permanent board. 46 congregations were part of the
association by the time the convention began at Westwood Lutheran
Church.

Mar 25 2001

Phoenix, Arizona: The constitution of Lutheran Congregations in Mission
for Christ (LCMC) is adopted on Tuesday, March 27, during the 2nd Annual
Convention of WA at Valley Cathedral in Phoenix. 25 congregations are
received as charter members of the association. Three interim board
members are chosen to work with the WA board to plan the first
convention for the association.

Mar 26 2000

Mahtomedi, Minnesota: The WordAlone Network (WA) is born at St. Andrew's
Lutheran Church. The first board is commissioned to craft an
association for congregations who feel they cannot stay in the ELCA.

Nov 15 1999

Roseville, Minnesota: The first gathering of those who are committed to
resisting the requirements of CCM and the direction of the ELCA is held
at Roseville Lutheran Church.

Aug 19 1999

Denver, Colorado: The Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA adopts Called to
Common Mission (CCM) in violation of our Lutheran Confessions.

Get in Touch

Newsletter

Stay on top of announcements and upcoming events by subscribing to our e-newsletter.